38 Facts About Arleigh Burke

Arleigh Albert Burke was an admiral of the United States Navy who distinguished himself during World War II and the Korean War, and who served as Chief of Naval Operations during the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations.

Arleigh Burke won an alternate appointment to the United States Naval Academy given by his local congressman.

Arleigh Burke graduated from the academy in June 1923, and was commissioned as an ensign in the United States Navy.

Arleigh Burke spent the remainder of the war in the South Pacific.

Arleigh Burke successively commanded Destroyer Division 43, Destroyer Division 44, Destroyer Squadron 12, and Destroyer Squadron 23.

The lesson was driven home to him at the Battle of Blackett Strait, when his radar operator made first contact with a ship near the shore but Arleigh Burke hesitated to fire.

Arleigh Burke's nickname was "31 Knot Burke," originally a taunt, later a popular symbol of his hard-charging nature.

In March 1944, Arleigh Burke was promoted to Chief of Staff to the Commander of Task Force 58, the Fifth Fleet's Fast Carrier Task Force, which was commanded by Admiral Marc Mitscher.

Arleigh Burke was promoted to the temporary rank of Commodore, and participated in all the force's naval engagements until June 1945, near the end of the war.

Arleigh Burke was promoted to rear admiral in 1949 and served as Navy Secretary on the Defense Research and Development Board.

At the time of his appointment as Chief of Naval Operations, Arleigh Burke was still a rear admiral and was promoted over the heads of many Flag Officers who were senior to him.

Arleigh Burke had never served as a vice admiral, so he was promoted two grades at the time of his appointment.

Arleigh Burke took the post of Chief of Naval Operations in May, 1955, with significant reservations.

Arleigh Burke served at a critical time in world history, during the depths of the Cold War.

Arleigh Burke was relatively young, age 53, compared to other Flag Officers at the time.

Arleigh Burke was a hard worker, and seemingly tireless, working fifteen-hour work days six days a week as a norm.

Arleigh Burke was an excellent leader and manager, and his ability to create an effective organization were keys to his success.

Arleigh Burke supported the notoriously demanding Admiral Hyman Rickover in the development of a nuclear-powered submarine force, and instituted the development of submarine-launched ballistic missiles, which led to the Polaris missile program, headed by Burke's selectee Rear Admiral W F "Red" Raborn.

Arleigh Burke convened the Project Nobska anti-submarine warfare conference in 1956 at the suggestion of Columbus Iselin II, director of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, where discussion ranged from oceanography to nuclear weapons.

At a time when others in the Navy were very skeptical of the idea of a missile launched from a submarine, Arleigh Burke succeeded in developing the single most effective deterrent to a nuclear attack on the United States.

Arleigh Burke further argued that land-based missiles and bombers were vulnerable to attack, which made the US-Soviet nuclear balance dangerously unstable.

Arleigh Burke served an unprecedented three terms as Chief of Naval Operations during a period of growth and progress in the Navy.

Arleigh Burke died on January 1,1996, at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

Arleigh Burke is buried at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery, in Annapolis, Maryland.

Arleigh Burke marked his initials on material that was later incorporated at the physical keel-laying on December 6,1988.

Arleigh Burke was one of the very few individuals to be honored by a ship named after them during their lifetime.

Arleigh Burke received numerous combat awards during his forty-two years in the Navy, including the Navy Cross, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and the Purple Heart.

Arleigh Burke's ship stood third in engineering competition and high in communication competition.

Later, when sixty-seven hostile bombers launched a deadly attack against his Task Force, Commodore Arleigh Burke kept up a vigorous barrage of anti-aircraft fire which assisted in shooting down seventeen Japanese planes and driving off the others.

Arleigh Burke's indomitable fighting spirit and great personal courage contributed directly to the success of our forces in that area and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Commodore Arleigh Burke was in large measure responsible for the efficient control under combat conditions of the tactical disposition, the operation, the security and the explosive offensive power of his task force in its bold and determined execution of measures designed to force the capitulation of the Japanese Empire.

From September 1950 until May 1951, Arleigh Burke served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Commander US Naval Forces, Far East, and, for "exceptionally meritorious conduct from September 3,1950, to January 1,1951" he was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a third Legion of Merit.

On January 10,1977, Arleigh Burke was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Gerald Ford.

Arleigh Burke was awarded the Ui Chi Medal and the Presidential Unit Citation from the Republic of Korea as well as the Order of the Rising Sun, First Class by the Government of Japan.

In 1999 Admiral Arleigh Burke became posthumously eligible for the Korean War Service Medal awarded by the Republic of Korea.

In 1962, Arleigh Burke co-founded the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC, with David Abshire.

Arleigh Burke was elected as an honorary member of the New York State Society of Cincinnati in 1964.

In 1991 Arleigh Burke was awarded the Lone Sailor Award by the US Navy Memorial Foundation for his distinguished career during World War II and the Korean War.